USM faculty cellist William Rounds performs Oswaldo Golijov's stunning solo cello work Omaramor then joins with USM alumna and former faculty member Elisabeth Marshall, soprano, presenting a collection of poems by Anne Bradstreet with music by James Kallembach. PSO principal oboist Amanda Hardy is then featured for a performance of an oboe/cello duo by Marilyn Zupnick. Finally, Rounds will perform the famed cello/bass duo by Gioachinno Rossini with PSO principal bassist Joseph Holt. Three of the works have been published within the last 20 years, making this a most relevant program for our time.

The program begins with the solo cello, which provides the connecting thread through the rest of the concert. Omaramor is a fantasy on a song popular in Argentina in the 30’s. Rounds describes this as a kind of duet with himself on the solo cello, following the enigmatic twists and turns of the piece as the tango theme is slowly revealed.

The unifying theme of the program is the unusual combinations of instruments. We’ve heard of eight cellos and a soprano, but rare is the literature for one cello and soprano. The same could be said for pairing the cello with the oboe, and especially interesting are the sounds that come from paring the cello with the double bass. Along with the distinctiveness of each work, the novelty of these seldom heard combinations make this a most compelling program.

USM faculty cellist William Rounds is a member of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and the Portland Symphony Orchestra.  He plays frequently as an extra with the Boston Symphony and performs with the Orlando Chamber Soloists. Originally from Rapid City, SD, he received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Boston University while studying with reknowned cellist George Neikrug. In addition to his classical career, Mr. Rounds has toured with John Denver, recorded for Aerosmith and performed on numerous movie soundtracks including the Oscar-winning Schindler’s List.

Soprano Elisabeth Marshall, alumna of the USM School of Music and former voice artist faculty member, has been praised for her “admirably flexible, gilt-edged voice” of “resonance and beauty” and “radiant sheen”, particularly in works of Bach, Handel, Haydn, and Mozart. Ms. Marshall joined the voice faculty at the Ithaca College School of Music in 2017, and previously served as Artist Faculty in Voice at the University of Southern Maine School of Music.

Amanda Hardy became principal oboe of the Portland Symphony Orchestra (Maine) in November 2013, where she currently occupies the Clinton Graffam chair. As a recipient of the Gillet Scholarship and Tourjée Alumni Scholarship Award, and numerous other awards, Hardy studied with Boston Symphony Orchestra principal oboist John Ferrillo at New England Conservatory (NEC). She is on the faculty of Boston Conservatory and the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, and she also teaches at Northeastern University, and has several years of private teaching experience on both oboe and piano.

Joseph Holt is particularly accomplished in and passionate about orchestral playing, and has performed 340 weeks with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including tours in the United States, Europe, and Asia, as well as performances at Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Tanglewood. He has played under the baton of virtually every renowned conductor of the last 20 years, and is currently assistant professor of double bass at Boston Conservatory.

The concert will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 8 p.m. in Corthell Concert Hall on the USM Gorham campus. Tickets are $15 for the general public, $10 for seniors, USM employees and alumni, and $5 for students. Tickets are available online from the USM Music Box Office, at www.usm.maine.edu/music/boxoffice, by phone (207) 780-5555, or in person at the door.

Those needing special accommodations to participate fully in this program, contact Lori Arsenault, (207) 780-5142, loria@maine.edu. Hearing impaired: call USM's telex / TDD number (207) 780-5646.